crandall



W. BURANDALL.

Patent the varied combinations the letters will form,

. depth and'proportion otherwise.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM E. ORANDALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWARD I. HORSMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

ALPHABET BLOCK AND CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 275,329, dated April 3, 1883. Application filed February 3, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. GRAN- DALL, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alphabetical Blocks in (loinbination with a Box; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying sheet of drawings, making part of this specification.

This invention is in the nature of an improvement inalphabetieal blocks; and the invention consists in a series of blocks with letters on two of their sides, in combination with a box consisting of two equal parts hinged together, and provided with partitioned cells or similar devices within it to retain the blocks, and a silicated surface on the bottom of the box.

In theaccompanying sheet of drawings,Figure 1 represents a perspective view of open box, showing cells and blocks in place; Fig. 2, a cross-section showing box closed; Fig. 3, a perspective view of block, showing the two lettered sides. 7

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

The purpose of this invention is to amuse and instruct children--that is, instruct them in their letters, and the arrangement of the letters in words-develop their ingenuity by both in words and sentences, andat the same time supply a set of blocks for building or for any other purpose, the blocks being retained in a snug receptacle, which will keep them together, and thereby avoid loss and disarrangement. To accomplish this I construct a box consisting substantially of two equal sized sections, forming a top, A, and bottom B, these two parts of the box being of the same They are united or joined together by hinges a, so that when the box is open the interior of its top and bottom will present the same appearance in construction, size, form, and arrangement. Withinthese two sections of the box are fitted partitions b, dividing their interior into a series of cells, 0. These cells may be rectangular or circular, but preferably the former.

To one of 'the outer surfaces of either the top or bottom of the box is applied a preparation of silicate, D, forming a surface that may be used for all the purposes of a common slate.

In addition to the box above described, I construct a series of blocks,'0, which may be rectangular or of other convenient form, and of a size corresponding with the interior of the cells 0. Onto two opposite surfaces of these blocks are impressed or otherwise placed letters d. Now, when these blocks are placed in the cells a they exactly fill these cells, and at the same time permit the two parts of the box A and B to be closed, so that the box may present the appearance of a closed book, if

desired, which, when opened, will display its contents, consisting of the blocks, which have been arranged within it so that the entire seseries of blocks will spell difi'erent disconnected words, or which together will form a sentence.

The blocks may be so arranged that by the exercise of a little ingenm'hyxeach of the horizontal rows will spelF'fiIgiven word, and at the same time. the letters of each of these words will also' form other words when read vertically. Each section of the box, therefore, it containing, say, fifteen cells, may be arranged to spell five words of three letters each when read horizontally and three words of five letters each when read vertically; or the letters in the box may, as is obvious, be arranged in any manner, and when the blocks -are removed from the cells a they can be used as ordinary building-blocks, and the silicated surface D can be employed as a common slate and be written on with a pencil or chalk.

It will be seen that when the blocks are placed in their respective cells and the box closed they form a snug, compact package,

which will keep the blocks together, so that they will not be scattered and lost.

Instead of the cells 0, pegs or any similar device maybe employed to keep the blocks in place.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The herein described box, composed of the top A and bottom B, of equal and similar construction, provided with partitions 1), digcther and provided with cells, all as shown, viding said top and bottom separately into and a silicated surface on said box, substancells 0, as shown, combined with the blocks, tially as set forth.

as specified.

WM. E. ORANDALL. 2. A series of blocks with letters on two op- Witnesses:

ppsite sides, combined with a box consisting G. E. SIMS, Jr.,

G. M. PLYMPTON.

of two equal and similar parts hinged to- 

